Doctor explains how to reduce risk of exposure to flesh-eating bacteria

GULFPORT, Miss. (WXXV) — A dangerous flesh eating bacteria has returned to The Gulf.

Vibrio is a type of flesh-eating bacterium, which you’ve probably heard of if you live in a warm, coastal city. Exposure to the bacterium could be deadly, but experts on the Mississippi Coast say there are ways to limit your risk.

Vibrio thrives in warm, marine environments, and tends to come in waves during the months of May, June, July, and August.

Dr. Nicholas Conger, an infectious disease physician at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport says that this year, the hospital has already seen an influx in cases of Vibrio compared to previous years.

Beach-goers can be exposed to Vibrio through open wounds. It is recommended that if you have a cut or scrape, do not get in the water. Another way to contract the bacteria is through eating some seafoods, like raw oysters.

The most at-risk population would be those with liver disease or individuals who consume an abundance of alcohol. For those with a compromised immune system, the infection could be more difficult to recover from.

The infection tends to set in quickly, so if you think you may have been exposed to the flesh-eating bacterium, go to the emergency room immediately for treatment.

It’s important to remember that vibrio can be found all across The Gulf during the summer months, not just here on the Mississippi Coast. So, if you find yourself on the water, be mindful of the risks of exposure.